U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue joined Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to sign a Shared Stewardship agreement (PDF, 262 KB) between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the State of Georgia. The agreement was signed at a ceremony at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

"Shared Stewardship offers a great opportunity to coordinate and prioritize land management activities in tandem," said Secretary Perdue. "The USDA and its agencies have a long and strong history of collaboration with the State of Georgia and this agreement will make that working relationship even stronger. I thank Governor Kemp for being a great partner in ensuring Georgia’s forests are properly managed."

“I am grateful to Secretary Perdue and the U.S Department of Agriculture for their partnership in the Shared Stewardship agreement, and I look forward to working with our federal partners to prepare for future land management challenges,” said Governor Kemp. “Together, we will ensure Georgia’s natural resources are preserved and protected for generations to come.”